Thursday, May 17, 2012

Developing anxiety

Time to clean up the studio. That means one of two things: it's an unbearable mess or project is done.  I am happy it's the latter. The nicknamed High Anxiety has been pieced! (This doesn't mean the former is not true.)

I'd finally determined a layout (see this post) nearly a month ago. 
initial layout

It was slow going assembling each of the six sections. I had to make more diamond modules.
three sections pieced

six sections pieced
More diamonds to fill in around the edges before sewing sections together.
two halves
Gap-osis at the bottom center half. Instead of trimming to create a straight edge, I deconstructed along the gap then filled it back in. Yes, more diamonds. Then sewed together the two halves, added more diamonds around the edges and marked a five-foot square.
finished top
At least this Potpourri workshop exercise is not in the ufo pile. Yeah! In another year or two or three I'll replace the nickname and quilt it up. 
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8 comments:

  1. Colleen Kole5/17/12, 7:21 PM

    wow-beautiful and nice job sticking with it. I am finding there is a certain point in the piece where anxiety steps in. And where I must take over to finish it and not panic.

    This is a piece to be proud-nice design and color use!

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    1. mad elena5/18/12, 5:13 PM

      Thank you, Colleen. There were moments when I questioned the whats, hows and whys. By sticking with it I get to see my vision come together. That's the great reward.

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  2. Sandy Ellison5/23/12, 7:45 AM

    Ellen, this is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to see it in person -- can you bring to Kerr's workshop? Did you have this in mind from the beginning? I loved the initial expression at Indianola and thought it was going to make a gorgeous composition. I can see how you got to this final piece from there but honestly think if it had been mine, I would have stopped before getting this far. What led you on?

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    1. mad elena5/23/12, 2:31 PM

      Thank you, Sandy. I'll bring it to the workshop just for you. Yes this is a successful culmination of my initial vision: a dense busy center that gradually dissipates to a calmer area - much like an explosion/implosion. What can I say? I was obsessed. I felt I was on the right track and had to see it through. I never questioned the vison, only other things.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous5/24/12, 5:50 AM

    Lovely finish! How did you get those black lines around the piece to be so square?

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    1. mad elena5/24/12, 8:49 AM

      Thank you, anon. I measured from vertical seam to side lines and squared off top & bottom with same seam. I hope it trims out as square as it looks.

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  4. Norma Schlager5/31/12, 12:21 PM

    What a fabulous piece, so much movement and energy! And I love the colors. It must have been a doozy to piece.

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    Replies
    1. mad elena5/31/12, 5:13 PM

      I learned a lot from piecing the first pie section. After that it was repetitive and I just kept putting one foot in front of the other.

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